“She believed she could, so she did.”

“I was unbelievably out of breath walking to the door,” shared Jamie.  At the young age of 26, Jamie was hospitalized for H1N1 & double pneumonia for an extended amount of time.  Jamie faced that after being sick for so long she physically didn’t have the stamina or endurance to walk very long which prevented her from work that she needed.  After she concluded physical therapy during her time in the hospital, Jamie found her weight back to what is was when she was admitted.  One January day, she came across a flyer that read "Christian Women’s Job Corps" offering a life and job skills class at no cost to help build resume and interview skills.  At the end of the program Jamie would be paired with a mentor to guide her through the physical goals as well the goals she had for herself to find a job.  Jamie may have never had the opportunity to bless us here at Alliance if she hadn’t taken the courageous leap of faith towards Christian Women Job Corps that day, despite all of her setbacks. 

      Soon after she was paired with her mentor, Jamie was informed by a friend of a local trainer that was willing to work with her and continues to work with her to meet the goals she has placed for herself.  Shorty after Jamie started meeting with her trainer she was referred to Alliance. Her father was the only one employed at the time which did not settle well with Jamie because she knew in order to start working again; she needed to seek further treatment.  Jamie’s appreciation for a holistic weight loss approach led her to a medical home here at Alliance.

      “Alliance didn’t make me feel ashamed about the shape I was in,” shared Jamie. She has been a patient of Alliance for almost three years and continues to grace us with her vibrant smile and loving nature.  She shares that her time spent at Alliance has opened her eyes to the proper medical care that she needs.  Obtaining good health has been a journey for Jamie as she continues to “manage portions and participate in daily activities.”  Dr. Lewis has been an inspiration for Jamie over the years at Alliance through her love and support.  “She is truly someone special,” says Jamie.  Today Jamie has lost 130 pounds and her success is not over.  Her hard work and dedication for obtaining a healthy lifestyle continues.  Jamie holds the daily reminder around her neck in her hand as she says aloud “she believed she could, so she did.”  This daily inspiration is a keepsake for Jamie to remind herself to never give up.  She shares that Alliance shined a light of hope in her life when she thought there wasn’t any left.  Her aspirations further beyond the weight loss goals she has placed for herself.  Jamie has a strong passion to get back into school to advance her education to land a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  The strong desire that Alliance represents for helping others receive the care they need has inspired Jamie to follow in the paths of those she has met.  “I'm not where I want to be yet, just beginning in so many ways.  But when I look back and see where I came from, I am proud of myself, not prideful but proud that I didn't give up and take the easy way out or not try at all.”

WHAT DOES FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM MEAN FOR ALLIANCE? By Dana E. Simpson, Esq. Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P and Alliance Medical Ministry Board Member

What does federal health reform mean for Alliance Medical Ministry? Will reform help all of Alliance’s patients obtain health insurance coverage? These are common questions asked by many Alliance supporters. As we move closer to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) in 2014, it is becoming clear that (unfortunately) the ACA will not solve the problem of the working uninsured in our community and there will continue to be a great need for Alliance’s services. The ACA should help provide insurance coverage for some Alliance patients, but working uninsured individuals with incomes at or below the federal poverty level will continue to lack access to affordable insurance coverage. Here’s how it will work. Approximately 98% of Alliance’s patients have incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The ACA will help subsidize the purchase of private health insurance through a federal exchange for Alliance patients with incomes between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level. Ironically, however, the ACA will not provide insurance coverage for those Alliance patients with the fewest financial means - namely those at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. This is because the ACA was initially designed to expand Medicaid coverage for lower income adults, but the State of North Carolina has chosen not to expand Medicaid at this time.

The lack of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina means that a large number of working adults in our community will remain uninsured. Recent estimates by the NC Institute of Medicine found that approximately 123,000 adult residents of Wake County lack access to affordable acute and primary medical care. If 50% of these residents receive subsidies to purchase health insurance (which is consistent with initial Congressional Budget Office estimates), then this will still leave 75,000 Wake County residents without insurance. Last year, Alliance provided a primary care home for 8,000 active patients. This representsjust 10.5 percent of all Wake County residents who will lack access to affordable insurance coverage following implementation of the ACA in 2014. These numbers make it clear that the need for Alliance’s primary care services in our community will continue.

Although Alliance’s services will still be very much in demand, implementation of the ACA will necessitate change for some current Alliance patients. The Alliance staff and Board of Directors are working on developing a plan to help our patients who become eligible for federally subsidized private health insurance in transitioning to new health care providers that accept such insurance. This will allow Alliance to create additional capacity for the thousands of other low-income working uninsured adults that have not previously been able to become patients at Alliance due to capacity limitations.

The staff and Board are committed to ensuring that Alliance continues to provide a medical home and compassionate care for the working uninsured in our community. We need the continued financial support of our donors to allow Alliance to sustain its critical mission during this time of health care transition. While we all pray that one day everyone in our community will have access to affordable health insurance, until that time comes the staff, volunteers, and supporters of Alliance will continue to live out our calling to “Love Thy Neighbor.”

A Good Match for Tracey

“I came in crying and Dr. McLaurin said, ‘Don’t worry, we will fix you from head to toe.”

Tracey came to Alliance four years ago following the emergency room. She was most surprised to find “a doctor that cares.” At Alliance she has been able to manage her hypertension, but more importantly she has found a place where she feels safe and can share.

“At Alliance I found assurance. I was able to get my medications and referrals to other services.” Then at the suggestion of her doctor, Tracey found Pastoral Care and Counseling to deal with anxiety and issues from the past that impacted her overall health.

“Toby kept encouraging me until I felt comfortable to speak,” shared Tracey. “Before I felt scattered and lost. Now I feel like I finally have roots firmly planted and have started to bloom.” Toby, our Director of Pastoral Care and Counseling, currently meets with Tracey every two weeks to work through her anxiety.

“As Tracey has grown to trust in our care, she has grown to trust herself and her ability to approach adversity differently,” shared Toby. “It is a blessing to watch her transform as she discovers herself in new ways and makes health choices that reflect the fruit of her improved self care.”

“I am so proud of Tracey!” shared Dr. McLaurin. “She truly has come a long way since she became our patient.” Tracey found a perfect match at Alliance. Together with Dr. McLaurin and Toby she can address many issues to improve her overall health and life.

Carol's Story

     “I knew I needed to do something, but I didn’t have anywhere to go once I lost my insurance,” Carol started. Carol, 55, has been employed from the age of 16 and had always received benefits through her employer. She explained how fortunate she’d been to have always had a job and access to care, but because of the economic downturn, her employer had no choice but to make budget cuts. As is often the case, benefits were part of the cut.

     “I’m chronically ill, although I feel healthy. I’ve had a heart murmur for about 20 years now, and I’m diabetic,” Carol explained. “So, I need to see a doctor regularly for wellness checks.” After she lost her insurance, she was trying to maintain her health on her own and buying insulin for $24 a bottle from Wal-Mart.

     Carol is employed as a cook by White Plains Children’s Center, which is a mission of White Plains United Methodist Church. “We do good work. The people there are good,” she exclaimed when asked about her job and how she came to Alliance. When she lost her insurance, someone at the church recommended that she reach out to Alliance Medical Ministry. After visiting the ACC with a severe headache from her diabetic condition, she became a patient. Carol’s former internist explained her medical history to her new doctor at Alliance, Dr. Lewis, who referred her to cardiologist, Dr. Paar.

     Although Carol was asymptomatic, Dr. Paar monitored her heart closely. In November of 2011, she experienced what seemed like a panic attack. She could hardly breathe. She tried lying down, sitting up, getting some fresh air, but nothing seemed to help. She didn’t attribute the shortness of breath to a heart problem, but when she explained the instance to Dr. Paar, he told her “This is the beginning.” She had gone into aortic stenosis. It was time for her to have heart surgery.

     “Bottom line, Alliance has just been a blessing. It came at a perfect time for me. Everything happens for a reason!” Carol said. Had she not had access to care, she may not have realized that her heart was the cause of her sudden onset symptoms, or that they were anything more than a panic attack. “I’ve come out of this better off. Alliance referred me to Dr. Hunter at WakeMed for my heart surgery and since then I’ve been seeing Dr. Lewis once every three months. The first breath of air I took in the ICU after my surgery was indescribable. I feel so much better.”

     Through the Patient Assistance Program, Carol has received over $20,000 in insulin thus far. “It’s wonderful!” she said of the program. “I’ll take care of myself. I want to be healthy. I just need to be able to do the things I need to do and have the things I need to take care of myself. I’ll listen to my doctors!” At $24 a bottle, it’s understandable the challenges she faced. “I’m so grateful.”

WRAL: For 10 years, Alliance Medical Ministry helps working poor

Alliance was featured on WRAL's "Good Things" segment last Friday. We're honored! Check out the video and please share it!

http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/video/12311178/#/vid12311178

Gavin's Miracle

Can you imagine suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, obesity, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder? The perseverance and courage to work through and recover from such a heavy load of problems is beyond admirable. “I’m a miracle!” exclaimed Gavin Herbst, who just celebrated his 43^rd birthday, as he shared his testimonial of the journey he’s travelled over the past two years. “I came to Alliance about two years ago because I had major issues and no insurance. My wife is a teacher and we can’t afford a policy for me. I’m a full time student at Wake Tech in the Criminal Justice program. I had no resources to take care of myself,” started Gavin. He needed comprehensive care - regular check ups, a disease management plan, a weight loss plan and mental health services. “I was extremely obese. I had a variety of conditions. I used an inhaler on a regular basis. I was a heavy smoker. I didn’t eat healthy. After a mental health crisis, I ended up in Holly Hill Hospital. Upon discharge, Wake County Rural Health referred me to Alliance.”

Once Gavin became a patient of Dr. Watson at Alliance, he started to make gradual improvement. “I kept making him promises. He’s certainly an awesome doctor. I was able to begin changing because of him, and I’m so thankful for him.” Some of Dr. Watson’s instructions were to develop an exercise routine. Gavin was keeping his promise on March 13^th, 2012, when he was working out at the Y with a friend. He suffered a pulmonary embolism not long after they began. In the time before the ambulance arrived, his heart stopped beating. His companion performed CPR while a small group of people formed and began praying. “I truly believe they saved my life,” Gavin declared. During the ambulance ride, Gavin flatlined SIX TIMES. “On the last time, I saw Jesus Christ and he spoke to me. He said: ‘Blessed be you who sees with his eyes for there are many before you that wish that they could see what you see now. Blessed be he who sees not with his eyes but believes through faith for he will be greatly rewarded in Heaven. Why have you forsaken me?’ Then he took my hand and he put it in his side where the Romans had stabbed him. He continued, ‘I’ve come to give you life, not by my will, but by the will of my Father who has sent me to you that you may have life and may have it abundantly. Go back and forsake me no more.’ I saw beautiful lights in colors I’d never even seen before and felt this amazing, powerful healing come over me. I was saved.”

After he was admitted into ICU, the doctors gave Gavin a 10% chance of survival. They called his wife to stay by his side, giving him no more than 3 days to live. But Gavin pulled through. “He kept me here for a reason. God has a bigger plan for me!” After suffering a seizure, being diagnosed with pneumonia and having experienced six cardiac arrests, he defied all the odds. He stayed in the hospital for 48 days before his release, and committed to the instruction he had received in the ambulance.

“I was 320 lbs at the time. Now I weigh 258 lbs. I’m on a diet of 1500-2000 calories per day and a max of 1500 g of sodium. I’ve stopped smoking altogether. I can run 2.5 miles. I’ve become a Christian. I’ve made sacrifices for my new lifestyle. It’s not always easy. Sometimes I’m tempted to pick up a cigarette or eat fried chicken, but I’m not prepared to go back down that road. I’ve made such remarkable progress. I can’t turn back,” Gavin declared.

“Alliance has been absolutely fantastic for my recovery!” Gavin receives guidance and support, can get his medications, is held accountable, and is educated on his health and lifestyle choices. He loves and appreciates his providers, giving big hugs to Dr. Jackie Hicks and Robin Schroeder, RN, as he shared his story. “Robin has been there through a lot of this. She’s one of my heros!” he exclaimed. “You’re one of our heros!” Robin replied. He is invested in his health and has truly become such a success, even asking Dr. Hicks health-related questions when he stopped in for our visit. “If you don’t follow the doctor’s instructions, you’re wasting their time and yours. Your health is one of the greatest assets you can have! That and your love for Him.” His outlook change and his strict attitude towards making the necessary changes to become healthy have truly propelled him. “I’ve learned to never give up. Life is precious. You really don’t realize how quickly it can be taken away. We have to take full use of all the things we have, both physically and spiritually.” We are so pleased that Gavin is doing just that. He's kept up a 3.7 GPA and is a member of two different honor societies. His goals are to remain an active member at Journey Church, continue improving his health and help kids by becoming a juvenile parole officer once he finishes school. We are absolutely honored to be a part of his amazing journey by helping him transfer his health!

Ash Wednesday Homily

During our Ash Wednesday service yesterday, our Chaplain Intern, Robert Flowers, delivered the following homily. Thank you, Robert, for sharing this with us!

A Reflection on Psalm 51:1-17

Prayer: O God of my salvation, deliver me so that my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Amen

It’s painful for patients to come to Alliance and share their aches, pains, and struggles with strangers. If you’ve ever been sick, you know how difficult it is to be around other people. We can’t talk about our illnesses. It’s too embarrassing. No one wants to hear about our excruciating pain, our unbearable suffering, or our “dark night[s]” of the soul. When we get sick, we want to hide it and pretend like all is fine. What ends up happening is we burden ourselves with shame, embarrassment, secrecy, guilt, and insecurity.

The patients who visit our Green, Blue, and Purple Pods bring with them loads of shame, secrets, guilt, and insecurity. Maybe it’s the diabetic patient who hasn’t been eating rightly or exercising. Or perhaps it’s the patient who knows he needs to kick his smoking habit, but he just can’t. Maybe its the woman who feels hopeless because of a debilitating illness, broken marriage, and lack of money. These patients walk in and out of our office daily hiding their struggles, but hoping that they might find a listening ear, a caring smile, or simply someone who cares.

That’s our role here. We are caregivers, but we could also think of ourselves as confession partners. People who are in utter pain and despair come to us and share their struggles. Sometimes we help by prescribing medicine, offering counsel, providing resources, or referring them to specialists. But these are only band-aids; temporary fixes. 

In reality, we have very little control over when, how, and where our bodies get sick. Illness can come to anyone at any time and at any age. It might come as a sudden pain, a strange lump, a routine checkup, or a vague sense that something is not quite right. The unexpected diagnosis of a serious illness brings with it shock, surprise and a confrontation with the fact that we are all going to die. Indeed, illness is much more than a medical event. It is often nothing short of a life passage and the beginning of a new journey.^[1]

We who work at Alliance are confession partners on the same journey as our patients. We, with finite bodies and limited knowledge and abilities, join our patients in trying to cope with the fear and frustration that come with being inside bodies that are breaking down.    

In today’s Psalm, we hear the confession of a fellow traveller, someone on this journey just like us. This person is on his knees in utter despair, in a body that is breaking down. The first words we hear are a cry for mercy. “Have mercy on me, wash me from my iniquity,” the Psalmist pleads to God. This cry for mercy can only come from someone who is struggling, from someone who knows his or her own brokenness. When we recognize what is broken in our hearts, the only thing we can do is to cry out for mercy.

Crying out for mercy is never easy. We can’t stand to admit those things that break our hearts and leave us feeling desperate, powerless, and dependent on something beyond our control. What would happen, we worry, if others knew of our struggles, knew of our doubts, knew of our fears, knew about our illnesses, or knew about our addictions? What would happen if people saw me for who I really am?

Our Psalmist reminds us that we come to remember and confess our deepest struggles because we know they don’t fall on deaf ears. Today is Ash Wednesday, when we come to receive the mark of the cross on our foreheads. This mark reminds us that we’re not alone in our afflictions and suffering. God has appealed to us in the dirty, messy, and crucified human body of Jesus Christ.  We confess our struggles, knowing that the Word made flesh has heard our cries and has the power to purge us and renew within us a right spirit.

This is why we begin Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent prepares us for the Cross and the celebration of Easter Sunday, that day when God through Jesus renews us and gives us new life. We learn to know and receive God’s merciful gift of new life as we plead and confess alongside the Psalmist. With broken and contrite hearts, we come before God crying out for mercy. Today on Ash Wednesday, let us remember and confess what makes us broken and finite human beings. In doing so, we can begin our journey toward the mercy and new life that God gives us on Easter Sunday. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.            

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^[1] See James L. Brooks, The Unbroken Circle: A Toolkit for Congregations Around Illness, End of Life and Grief (Durham, NC: Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life, 2009), 35.